Consumer spending in Australia's hospitality sector continued its upward trend in July 2026, contributing to a third consecutive month of growth in total household expenditure. According to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), spending in hotels, cafés, and restaurants was a key driver of the overall increase, signaling a robust consumer environment for food and beverage services.
The data indicates that total household spending grew by 1.1 percent in July 2026 compared to the previous month. On an annual basis, spending was up more than seven percent, representing the highest year-over-year growth rate recorded since June 2023. The ABS identified recreation and culture, food, and health as other primary categories contributing to the sustained rise in consumer expenditure.
The growth was observed nationwide, with no state or territory reporting a decline in spending for the hotel, café, and restaurant category. The most significant seasonally adjusted increases in total household spending were seen in the Northern Territory (up 2.2 percent), Western Australia (up 1.5 percent), and Victoria (up 1.3 percent). For coffee roasters and importers, this consistent, broad-based growth in café spending points to a healthy and expanding market for coffee consumption across Australia.